WALT DISNEY WORLD HIDDEN HISTORY
Remnants of Former Attractions & Other Tributes
Kevin Yee
2010
225 Pages
$12.95
Ultimate Orlando Press
Kevin is a prolific writer with regards to the Disney theme park experience. His earliest books were trivia quiz books about Disneyland and Walt Disney World. He went on to write about his experiences as a 10 year Cast Member. He even took on the challenge of drafting a guide book for Tokyo Disney. His weekly column on MiceAge.com is a staple. He claims to have visited Walt Disney World more than 600 times. I believe it.
This time he has decided to update the concept of the trivia book with a topic that is near and dear to my heart...the layers of history within the parks. The Walt Disney World resort has been around almost 40 years now and there have been some substantial changes. Instead of presenting the information in a quiz format, the author goes at the subject straight ahead with plenty of photos. The photos is a new addition and something lacking in the older books.
Kevin does a great job at highlighting details that will not find listed anywhere else. For example, did you know that the main gateway arch that welcomes drivers to the ticket area within the Transportation and Ticket Center is actually from the Wonders of Life pavilion at Epcot?
Like a good archeologist, Kevin uncovers the things that used to be but are no longer. Examples include the covered up projectors that used to show silent films in the movie theater on Main Street, the former Magic Kingdom ticket booths in Fantasyland and Tomorrowland or who is the model used for the African dancers used in the Jungle Cruise.
There are also a lot of buried tributes within the attractions. You can see a list of names for the phony companies that were used to purchase the Florida property in the windows above the Crystal Arts store on Main Street, the integration of Herb Ryman and John Hench in the mosaic on Cinderella Castle or former Disney CEO Michael Eisner hitting the golf ball in Soarin’.
There is even an obscure tribute to John Hench within Space Mountain. As the principle designer for that attraction, I have always known of the one at Disneyland but never noticed the one at the Magic Kingdom. I will now.
We all know that Michael Jackson was a huge fan of the Disney theme parks. But I did not know that one element within the Frontierland shooting gallery was the inspiration for one of the most memorable moments in a Michael Jackson music video.
The book does not limit itself to the Disney parks. There is even a chapter about Universal Orlando. The Universal section does not benefit from having a lot of photos (in fact there is only one) but the trivia is good stuff and will enhance your visit. I am a big fan of the Spiderman attraction and toward the end there is a sign that suggest you call 407-224-1783. That is all I am saying.
The book is just loaded with these kinds of trivia bits and the photos are a great addition. The text is matter of fact and the book is a very quick read. Kevin has done his homework and has avoided the more obvious trivia that has shown up in any number of books. He continues to refine this format and this is his best whack yet. If you like to learn more about the history of the Walt Disney World resort or have a big fan of the parks, then you may just want to pick up a copy for a holiday present.
The book was sent to me by the author for the purposes of this review.
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